- A UK government spokesman has said Britain might consider taking over sanctioned oligarchs’ lavish mansions to house newly arrived Ukraine refugees
- The announcement came shortly before the UK revealed plans to pay Britons some $460 a month to house Ukrainian refugees in spare rooms or properties for at least six months
- Meanwhile, protesters broke into Oleg Deripaka’s swanky London mansion and hung banners outside, taunting both its wealthy owner and Putin
LONDON, England: A UK government spokesman has said Britain might consider taking over sanctioned oligarchs’ lavish mansions to house newly arrived Ukraine refugees.
It’s “something we’re looking at,” the spokesman from the office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
The announcement came shortly before the UK revealed plans to pay Britons some $460 a month to house Ukrainian refugees in spare rooms or properties for at least six months.
Meanwhile, protesters broke into Oleg Deripaka’s swanky London mansion and hung banners outside, taunting both its wealthy owner and Putin.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the anarchist group “Resist London” said it took over Deripaska’s property “to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but also the people of Russia who never agreed to this madness.”
Deripaska was put on Britain’s sanctions list last week over his ties to Russian president Putin.
Police responded to Deripaska’s London mansion after the anarchist squatters occupied it.
The incident took place at Deripaska’s $65 million mansion in a wealthy area of London that is home to foreign embassies.
A spokeswoman for Deripaska said the home was owned by members of his family and likened the UK asset freeze imposed against him last week to “colluding with the sort of people who raid private property”.
“It’s truly a disgrace that this is happening in a country that is supposed to respect private property and the rule of law,” the spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Johnson said, “Squatting in residential buildings is illegal, but we are working to identify the appropriate use for seized properties while owners are subject to sanctions.”
The action came as protesters also descended upon a $5.75 million London apartment believed to be home to Polina Kovaleva, the 26-year-old stepdaughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Sun said.
British politicians have also called for Kovaleva to be added to the sanctions list, along with Deripaska and some 20 others.
Meanwhile, French police arrested a pair of activists who infiltrated a villa tied to Putin’s ex-son-in-law, Kirill Shamalov.
As for Deripaska, he is barred from entering the U.S. and is wanted on charges of murder, money laundering, bribery and racketeering.
In his last tweet, Deripaska said, “I remain committed to my belief that an immediate ceasefire and peace agreement as soon as humanly possible is the best and only solution to stop this madness in Ukraine.”
